Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck congratulates Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman (13) against Purdue in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

When and where is the Gophers vs. Northwestern game?

11 a.m. Saturday, TCF Bank Stadium

Records: Minnesota (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten); Northwestern (6-4, 6-1)

What channels are Gophers vs. Northwestern game on?

TV: BTNRadio: KFAN

WHO HAS THE EDGE?

Gophers offense vs. Northwestern defense: QB Tanner Morgan is 2-1 as a starter, but in last Saturday’s 41-10 win over Purdue, he threw for a season-low 139 yards, a number diminished by four drops from receivers. The Gophers lead the Big Ten and are 11th in the nation in yards per completion (14.6), with the potential for big plays against a shorthanded NU secondary. The Wildcats will be without starting cornerbacks Trae Williams and Montre Hartage and a top safety in Jared McGee. Northwestern struggles to get to the quarterback, averaging 1.3 sacks per game (116th in the nation), which should give Morgan time to find receivers. DE Joe Gaziano has five of the Wildcats’ 13 sacks. Northwestern has won 10 straight games against West foes on the back of its rushing defense, which is 36th in the nation (135 yards a game). U’s wildcat quarterback Seth Green is among the Big Ten leaders with eight rushing TDs. Behind leading tacklers in LBs Blake Gallagher and Paddy Fisher, Northwestern doesn’t allow big plays: They are 21st in the nation with only 49 plays of 20 yards or more. Five of their past six Big Ten foes have scored 20 points or fewer. EDGE: Northwestern

Gophers defense vs. Northwestern offense: Minnesota produced its most eye-opening performance of the season against the Boilermakers. After firing defensive coordinator Robb Smith, the U held Purdue to 10 points and 233 yards, which were 22 points and 190 yards better than Minnesota’s season averages. The Wildcats offense won’t wow fans; they are 101st in the country in scoring (24 points per game). Their rushing offense, which is 124th in the nation, suffered from the season-ending loss of RB Jeremy Larkin but in recent weeks RB Isaiah Bowser has stepped up. He had a career-high 165 yards in a 14-10 win at Iowa last week. Northwestern’s senior QB Clayton Thorson hasn’t thrown for more than 165 yards in the last four games. He has three touchdowns and five interceptions in that stretch. WR Flynn Nagel leads team with 63 receptions for 744 yards. Against Purdue, LB Blake Cashman led with nine tackles, 1/2 sack, a fourth-down stop and a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Nickel CB Chris Williamson also played his best game since transferring from Florida in 2017. Interim DC Joe Rossi will be tasked with making sure Minnesota doesn’t revert back to its mean. EDGE: Gophers

Special teams: Senior K Emmit Carpenter will look to build on his program-best 81 percent field-goal conversion rate. Northwestern K Charlie Kuhbander has made 43 percent of his kicks this year; K Drew Luckenbaugh is at 75 percent. The Gophers have two blocked punts this season, but Northwestern doesn’t beat themselves. They are the least-penalized team in the nation at 28 yards per game. EDGE: Minnesota

Prediction: The Big Ten West-champion Wildcats went from a three-point favorite to a two-point underdog against a 5-5 Gophers team this week. Northwestern has one facet of its game that stands out — rush defense — so if the Gophers can carve out an edge in other facets, they will pull off a win. Gophers, 23-21

Andy Greder covers the Gophers and Minnesota United for the Pioneer Press. Since joining the paper full time in November 2013, he has also covered the Timberwolves as a beat and spot duty from the Vikings to high schools. He was a part-time breaking news reporter at the Pioneer Press from 2011-13, when he was also a freelance writer and organic farmer. He started at the Duluth News Tribune in 2006, covering sports, news and business until living abroad in 2010.

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